I caught yet another cool link and discussion via RA today on the ongoing music genre skirmish. Most of this discussion refers to the recent argumentative reviews in electronic sites like Resident Advisor, who delve primarily in underground dance versus indie sites like Pitchfork, labeled by one of the readers as the “definitive indie launch pad” (loosely quoted), where reviewers are trying to examine and rate techno releases with inadequate backgrounds on the subject matter. The focus of the blog’s rhetoric is on “techno vs. indie” and the ongoing crossover between the two. I recommend you read, as I did, from start to finish. The exchange of opinions is quite insightful. Unlikely for me, coming from a more techno purist type stand, I found myself meeting halfway on their points because i’ve had to move alot between the underground and pop realms over the last few years, being the “working dj” that I am. One commenter named FRED, whom I agreed with, had this to say:
…crossover is happening, and it will continue. How else would I, indie kid living in the United States, gotten into techno/house? The answer is because I listen to anything that I judge as good, and the indie and dance music scenes are proving in these days as some of the most fruitful. I don’t lament the crossover, either– I embrace it. Perhaps I’m not “purist” enough, but I think music that bends genre or defies it generally turns out to be some of the best. But for this to turn out well, both parties (i.e. the indie and dance scenes, Pitchfork and RA, marijuana and ecstasy, etc.) are going to have to learn the other’s parlance.
One of my close friend’s girl and I always get in to discussions about this very thing. It’s something I think is hard for the extremists, like us, to wrap their “ears” around. Each day I discover new music, artists, labels etc., sometimes by my own accord or through others recommendations and its an undeniable fact that crossover occurs in all of these layers of music. I find it as a dj, that sometimes crossover is what you aim for, trying to gain new listeners, new followers and hopefully turning your “indie” friends on to the “dance” music. Before I get way to into my own opinions here on the matter, check out the blog and let me know how you feel.
